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Show were placed for the animals, thus it made a soft bed for a baby," Aling ex- plains. star that guided the wistmen has been a subject of scientific of veers and many theories abound. Its been called a hundreds study planetary conjunction, but that would be too fuzzy to look like just one star. Aling says. Another theory is a meteor, but a meteor lasts just a second or two. It was also too early in history to be Halleys Comet, another theory. Aling sides with the theory in a book written by John Williams at the Uniwatchers versity of Chicago in 1871. The Chinese were known as night-skwho kept a detailed book of sightings. Two events in the hook explain unusual sightings at the time of Christs birth. Comet 52 was in the sky for 70 days during March and April, about 5 B.C., and moved in a westward direction. Comet 53 appeared in March and April, around 4 R.C., and hovered, The bright for Getwhatyou really want this Christmas & v CIEnRECISTRYilMTHEWAYiTOICO out a registry card between now & Dec. to enter the drawing for a $2 5 Gift Fill Aling explains. Guided by that star, or comet, the wisemen visited Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus in their home in Bethlehem probably a year or two after his birth, Aling says. The number of three wisemen is pure tradition. There could, and probably were, more. And there are clues as to who they were and where they came from. The biblical account indicates they came from a country east of the Holy Land. They were evidently or astronomers and were familiar enough with Jewish scriptures to know a Messiah was prophesied. My theory is that they came from Mesopotamia, which is modern-daIraq," Aling says. The Victorian Period of 19th century England popularized many of the Christmas customs we see in society today, Aling says. It was a sentimental era and people held devout religious views as well as traditions. They also loved a good party. One of the most prominent customs, the Christmas tree, was actually inin Germany. Prince Albert, husband ) troduced by Martin Luther of Queen Victoria and a German himself, brought the Christmas tree custom countries. The Yule log was adapted from an old to the custom when large logs were cut and dragged inside homes as a source of light and warmth during the darkest and coldest months of the year. English boarding schools closed down for two weeks, the small London shops decorated their front windows with holly and berries, and homes were festooned with evergreen boughs, ivy and mistletoe. Benevolence was evident during the Victorian Christmas season. Help for the poor was almost entirely a private matter in the early Victorian years, 15 Certificate at Nature's West. Complimentary star-watche- rs ' ITuckyBrand clanslp PLAYBOY (1583-1546- n Anglo-Saxo- g f Gift Wrap y English-speakin- V Gift Certificates . Nata ire's West 50 N. Main 259-441- 4 Tues-Sa- t 10-- 6 Continued on the next page Im dreaming of a Digital Christmas 0 Zenith JVC RCA Panasonic Hitachi Pioneer Samsung AIWA r Fisher Sharp The GE Gift delivery Knowles as cash on approved credit Home Furnishings free same day 90 days same 1004 S. HWY 191 Moab 259-158- 5 2001 Page 11 |